Learning Management System Pilot

Why We Evaluated

The myCourses Users Group and the Center for Learning and Teaching evaluated the current Learning Management System (LMS) landscape. Binghamton University has been using Blackboard as our LMS since 2000. As needs and tools change over time, it is important to continually evaluate them to ensure they are still meeting the needs of our students and instructors.

LMS Pilot Committee

The LMS Pilot Committee consisted of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students from across the university. We were charged with evaluating alternate LMSs. We welcomed and encouraged all faculty and student input. The full committee list is available on the LMS Pilot Participants page. 

Faculty Participants 

Faculty from across the university participated in the pilot and taught one or more of their Spring 2019 courses in the pilot space. The full list of faculty participants is available on the LMS Pilot Participants page. 

Pilot Goal

The pilot allowed instructors and students to use, evaluate, and provide feedback about three alternative LMSs to our current LMS, Blackboard Learn. This feedback was used to determine future directions for the campus.

Timeline

Spring 2018

Fall 2018

  • Campus demos of selected LMS options - Canvas, Brightspace by D2L, and Blackboard Ultra. Recorded demos are available to the right. 

  • Instructors applied to be part of the pilot, selecting which system they would like to use.

  • Instructors participating in the pilot built their courses in the pilot platforms with the assistance of vendor, CLT, and ITS.

  • The pilot was limited to 20 instructors per product. (Actual – Brightspace 18, Canvas 16, Blackboard Ultra 7)

Spring 2019

  • Classes were taught in the three systems

  • Towards the middle of the spring semester, faculty and students were surveyed about their experiences thus far

  • On Thursday, April 4 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in UU324 and Friday, April 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in LN1324 there were panel presentations by faculty participants sharing their experiences. Recordings are available online. 

  • After the spring semester ended, faculty and students were surveyed about their experiences.

  • Select faculty and students were interviewed for in-depth feedback.

Summer 2019

  • The pilot committee reviewed feedback and data from the pilot participants and faculty and students.

  • The committee finalized the specifications and drafted recommendations for the LMS for the Provost.

  • The Provost determined that the campus should move forward with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Fall 2019

Spring & Fall 2020

  • The LMS RFP committee provided a comprehensive review of each LMS based on proposals submitted through the RFP.

  • Each LMS who submitted a proposal and passed stage 1 was invited to an on-campus demo. 

  • The LMS RFP committee sent their recommendation to the Provost and the vice provost for student and faculty development.

  • The provost made the final decision.

Spring & Summer 2021

  • The campus (with vendor support) will begin training of faculty and transitioning of courses

Fall 2021

  • Full implementation of the selected LMS